 |
Berkeley |
Albany | Emeryville |
1414 University Avenue, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94702 |
|||
Home About LWV Calendar Your Reps Civics Newsletter Join LWVBAE Links
|
11th ANNUAL COMMUNITY LUNCHEON Speaker: George Lakoff, Professor of
Linguistics, UC Berkeley The League’s Eleventh Annual Community Luncheon will be headlined by George Lakoff, Professor of Linguistics at UC Berkeley, who will speak on “Framing and Voting.” For background on his concept of framing, read this excerpt from Chapter 1 of his book Don't Think of an Elephant. World renowned for his application of linguistics to politics, literature, philosophy and mathematics, Professor Lakoff was recently involved with the effort to qualify an initiative for the November ballot that would change California’s Constitution to allow a majority in the State Legislature to pass a budget or raise revenue. For Lakoff, who has been a UC professor since 1972, the development of thought has been the process of developing better metaphors: the application of one domain of knowledge to another domain of knowledge offers new perceptions and understandings. Professor Lakoff’s lectures are enormously popular, and he has authored many critically acclaimed books and articles; most recently, The Political Mind: Why You Can’t Understand 21st-Century Politics with an 18th Century Brain, published in 2008. In addition, several books and articles have been published about Professor Lakoff and his engaging ideas. Another high point of the August 19 Luncheon will be the honoring of UC Berkeley Professor Emeritus of Physics Arthur Rosenfeld with the “Spirit of the League” award. Professor Rosenfeld’s accomplishments are many, among which: ten years on the 5-member California Energy Commission; recipient of the Enrico Fermi Award, the oldest and one of the most prestigious science and technology awards given by the U.S. government (Arthur Rosenfeld was Enrico Fermi’s last graduate student); and co-founder of UC’s Institute for Energy and Environment, now known as the Environmental Energy Technology Division (EETD) of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. EETD will also receive the organizational “Spirit of the League” award. Also receiving an individual “Spirit of the League” award will be long-time League member and community activist Frances Townes. Among Townes’ many civic contributions was the founding of the Berkeley Ecumenical Chaplaincy to the Homeless and her service on the Community Advisory Panel for KQED Public Broadcasting. Books, Inc. (1760 Fourth Street, Berkeley) has generously agreed to contribute a portion of the proceeds from their Luncheon book sales to our League. George Lakoff joins the list of distinguished former Community Luncheon speakers that includes KQED Radio “Forum” host Michael Krasny; World Affairs Council President and CEO Jane Wales; UC Professor and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich; Member of Congress Jackie Speier; Boalt Hall School of Law Dean Christopher Edley, Jr.; and State Treasurer and former Attorney General Bill Lockyer. All who have attended our Luncheons in past years will receive an invitation, and you are urged to bring friends and acquaintances to this gala event. The Luncheon is an ideal way to show guests what the League accomplishes in our communities, and is the major means by which we raise funds to support our many activities and programs. The Luncheon is always a wonderful summer enhancement, so watch for your invitation and do join us on August 19!
Suzanne Chun |
